Chapter 17
Kaia
Something’s different.
I know it before I’m fully awake. The air feels warmer. Heavier. There’s weight against my back and—
Oh.
Torric.
His arm is draped over my waist. His chest pressed against my back. The fire rune pulses faintly against my spine, syncing with his breathing.
He’s out cold. Completely dead to the world.
My shadows are curled around us both like they’ve given up on being dignified.
I let myself have this. Just for a second. Just this one quiet moment before everything starts moving again.
Then I see movement in the doorway.
Aspen.
Grinning like an absolute bastard.
“Morning,” he says.
Oh gods.
“…how long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough.”
Heat floods my face. “Aspen—”
“Relax.” He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed. “I’m just glad you both finally stopped running.”
I carefully untangle myself from Torric. He doesn’t wake—just shifts, reaches for where I was, then settles back into sleep like nothing happened.
My shadows scatter.
I grab my clothes off the floor and start getting dressed.
Aspen doesn’t look away.
His gaze isn’t leering—it never is—but it’s not neutral either. There’s heat there.
He wants me.
I know he does.
I’m okay with that.
But he just watches quietly, like he always does. Besides, he’d never do anything without asking me first.
“I knew you two would work it out eventually,” he says softly.
I pull my shirt over my head. Meet his eyes.
“Aspen. I need to talk to Kieran.”
The grin disappears.
“You want to move out.”
Not a question.
I nod.
“We have to find Seren.” I take a breath. “We’re rested. Kieran’s rested. There’s no point waiting.”
Aspen studies me. Then nods slowly.
“I’m glad you gave yourself time to heal first.”
My chest tightens.
Because he’s right.
I smile. Grateful.
“Thank you.”
He pushes off the doorframe. “Come on. He’s out back.”
We walk in silence.
The air is cool. Soft. Dew clings to everything, catching the early light.
It’s almost easy to forget we’re standing in the middle of corrupted Absentia. That just beyond the wards, the realm is still twisted. Broken. Here, inside Kieran’s sanctuary, everything feels normal.
Like a mirage in a wasteland.
Aspen slows as we approach the garden.
Kieran is there. Adjusting a ward or… something, that I definitely don’t understand. He’s moving carefully, deliberately.
He looks peaceful.
I haven’t seen that in a long time. Maybe ever.
Aspen gives him a quiet nod—some kind of unspoken guy thing—and walks away.
Kieran sets down whatever he was holding. Turns to face me.
Gods.
I forget sometimes. How beautiful he is. How the light catches the sharp lines of his jaw. How his eyes hold centuries but still manage to look at me like I’m the only thing that matters.
It’s annoying, honestly.
I steady myself, clasping the Heart of Eternity feeling the weight of it in my hand, and start with the truth.
“I haven’t gotten a chance to thank you yet.”
His expression shifts. Guarded. Like he’s bracing for a hit.
“For what?”
I step closer. Let my fingers brush his bicep.
He goes still. Completely still.
“For saving me.” My voice comes out softer than I intended. “For protecting me. For everything you’ve done since we got here.”
I take a breath.
“Well. You know. Besides the whole forcing the bonds thing.” I hold his gaze. “And at some point we’re going to talk about that. But not right now.”
Kieran flinches. Just barely.
Good. He should.
“I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you,” I continue. “For the rest of it.”
His jaw tightens.
Not guilt. Not this time. This is something else.
“You don’t owe me anything.” His voice is quiet. Rough. “My job has always been to protect you.”
I shake my head. “You protected me even when I made it impossible.”
Something flickers across his face.
But it doesn’t shatter him this time. He just exhales slowly.
Okay. Here we go.
“We need to find Seren.”
He nods once. Listening.
“I’m not rushing in recklessly.” I hold his gaze. “Not this time. We’re healed. You’re stable. I’m stable. There’s no reason we can’t leave tomorrow.”
He doesn’t argue or try to stall. Just stands there watching me like I’m a puzzle he can’t figure out.
“You said you’d follow me anywhere,” I say quietly.
Kieran inhales.
I watch it happen—the shift.
His shoulders drop. His magic settles. His eyes go soft in a way that makes my chest hurt.
He steps toward me but stops himself before he gets too close.
Giving me the space I need. Even now.
“I did,” he says. “And I meant it. If you’re ready… then I’m ready.”
I nod. “Then let’s go find her.”
He gives me a small smile.
It’s the first real one I’ve seen in a long time. It lights up his entire face and does something to my insides I am not ready for.
“I’ll alert the others. We leave at dawn.”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
He hears everything I’m not saying.
Then he turns and walks back toward the house.
I watch him go.
Something settles in my chest.
This time I’m not running scared. I’m not shoving my way forward because I can’t stand still.
This time I do it right.
And Kieran’s following because he wants to. Not because he feels like he has to.
My shadows curl around my ankles. Quiet and steady.
We’re not running toward danger this time.
We’re doing what needs to be done. And we’re doing it together.